UPDATE 2 (2:35 p.m.):
The National Weather Service has placed Polk and surrounding counties under a Severe Thunderstorm Watch, per EMA Director Bobby Dockery. It is in effect until at least 3 p.m.
Additionally, a High Wind Warning is now in effect for Polk County as well.
No reports of damage have been made yet.
Have weather photos or video to share? Email polktoday@gmail.com to participate.
Stay tuned for further updates as they become available.
UPDATE (12:15 p.m.):
Storms are arriving sooner rather than later in Polk County and the surrounding area, and now a new threat is out there: tornadic activity.
The National Weather Service put a tornado watch in place for Northwest Georgia until 5 p.m. Counties included around Polk are Bartow, Carroll, Floyd, Haralson, Paulding, and the rest of Northwest Georgia.
Wind gusts coming into the area due to the cold front pushing severe thunderstorms toward Polk and surrounding counties are already being felt.
Check back for more updates as they become available through the afternoon.
Previously posted:
Keep an eye on the sky throughout the rest of the day as the National Weather Service has called for showers and thunderstorms to remain around until at least 4 p.m., and then a big drop in temperatures.
A wind advisory is in place and gusts could get as high as 45 mph as storms approaching from a cold front moving in from the west. Expect gusts upward of 35 mph, with winds regularly at 20 to 25 mph.
Peachtree City forecasters put the risk level of 3 out of 5 for Northwest Georgia, and a 2 out of 5 for North and Central Georgia. The primary threat is for damaging wind gusts, but an isolated tornado or two are possible.
After the cold front moves through, a drop in temperatures will begin, with a low tonight expected of 43.
Expect at least a quarter inch of rain from the thunderstorms set to arrive this afternoon.
Ahead of the stormy weather’s arrival, Polk School District announced they would start releasing students from school at 11:30 a.m. Middle and High School students will head home first, followed by elementary students at 12:30 p.m.
